Lampholder with improved mounting means



J 6 J. M. PISTEY ETAL LAMPHOLDER WITH IMPROVED MOUNTING MEANS 2 SheetsSheet l W A Filed March 2, 1965 9 V W d 4 .6

June 27, 1967 J. M. PISTEY ETAL 3,328,577

LAMPHOLDER WITH IMPROVED MOUNTING MEANS Filed March 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl? 1 19)? 60/15 fa/712 /2 P/Lstey, VV/W/am Vermau/wz Attorney- United States Patent 3,328,577 LAMPHOLDER WITH IMPROVED MOUNTING MEANS John M. Pistey and William Vermeulen, Fairficld, Conn., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 436,442 13 Claims. (Cl. Mil-51.11)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fluorescent lampholder with a stepped recess and boss in each side wall for cooperative engagement with catch tabs on a supporting panel to mount the lampholder. The lampholder also includes a stepped recess in the back wall for engagement with a catch tab and locking tongue on the panel for locking the lampholder in position on the panel, with the lampholder being locked in all six positions which its walls face.

The present invention relates to electric lampholders, and is particularly applicable to providing means for mounting fluorescent lampholders on a panel in a lighting fixture.

In the past it has been common practice to utilize fastening hardware such as screws and nuts to assemble fluorescent lampholders in lighting fixtures. This means of mounting lampholders was expensive due to the cost of the screws and nuts as well as the labor required to assemble the parts.

To eliminate this cost fluorescent lampholders and fixture panels were in the ast especially constructed to mate with one another and hold together without requiring the use of fastening screws and nuts. However, these prior lampholders were relatively inflexible in their application. For example, in one type of such lampholder to eliminate the need for screws and nuts, to fasten it to a fixture panel, a slot mounted arrangement has been used. A narrow slot is provided on opposing sides of the lampholder. The mounting panel for this type of lampholder must be formed with a large slot which will straddle the lamp holder with the edges of the panel slot mating with the slots formed on the opposite sides of the lampholder. Such lampholders project beyond each side of the panel and require greater clearances in the lighting fixture. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a lampholder that can be readily adaptable for use in a wide range of fluorescent lamp fixture applications and which is particularly suitable for shallow fixtures.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved lampholder which may be eificiently and conveniently fastened to a relatively large number of different supporting panels thus enhancing the flexibility of the lampholder so that identical lampholders may be used in a large number of different applications.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a lampholder for use with a mounting panel with improved fastening means for securely locking the lampholder in position on a supporting panel.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved fluorescent lampholder which may be readily mounted upon a supporting panel without the use of fastening hardware and conveniently removed from said panel for replacement.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved fluorescent lampholder constructed in such a manner as to enhance its flexibility of usage for mounting applications having different requirements, the lampholder also being relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

In carrying out our invention, in one form thereof, we have provided a fastening means for positioning and supporting our improved fluorescent lampholder in locked engagement on a panel in a lighting fixture. The lampholder has a rectangular insulating housing including two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and a back wall. Each of the side walls has a catch member on it including a stepped recess and a boss. The stepped recess opens to the back wall of the housing. The housings top wall and back wall both have catch members on them. The catch members on the top wall and back wall are recesses formed in the respective walls.

This lampholder construction permits the lampholder to be used with any one of a large number of dilferent lighting fixture panels. If a lighting fixture panel is to have one of the new and improved lampholders of our invention used with it, the panel can have many variations so long as it has catch elements such as two tabs with portions or surfaces that will overlie front facing surfaces of the lampholder housing, such as the step in the recess or the boss on the side wall of the lampholder to clamp the lampholder against the panel. Preferably, the catch elements and the front facing surfaces should include some means or separate means should be provided to limit the movement of the lampholder to either side and toward one end. Locking means may also be provided to lock the lampholder into position against its removal from the desired mounting position. This may be done by the provision of a locking tongue projecting from the panel of the lighting fixture and facing toward the other end of the lampholder. This tongue engages in the recess in the back wall of the lampholder preventing the lampholder from moving toward the other end. The panel itself, of course, prevents the lampholder from moving in the direction of its back. Thus, the lampholder can be locked to the panel from the six directions which its walls face.

By a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a simple and effective means for conveniently unlocking the locking tongue from its engagement with the lampholder so that the lampholder may be withdrawn from the lighting fixture for replacement or repair. This means is provided by an aperture which passes through the housing from the front wall through the back wall. This aperture opens into the recess in the back wall of the housing into which the locking tongue snaps to lock the lampholder in position. A pointed instrument may be inserted through this aperture from the front face of the lampholder and engaged against the tongue to depress the tongue and permit the removal of the lampholder from the panel. Thus access to the back wall of the lampholder or to the back wall of the mounting panel is unnecessary to mount or dismount the lampholder from the panel.

Further aspects of our invention will become apparent hereinafter, and the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which we regard as our invention. The invention, however as to organization and method of utilization, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a lighting fixture showing the improved fluorescent lampholders embodying the present invention employed therein;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one of the lamp holders shown in FIGURE 1 and a portion of one of the mounting panels shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the lampholder and mounting panel of FIGURE 2 with the lampholder aligned on the panel for locking engagement with the panel;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section along line 44 of FIGURE 2, of the lampholder and mounting panel of FIGURE 3 with the lampholder locked in position on the panel;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the panel and lampholder of FIGURE 2 with a lampholder mounted on the panel;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the back of the panel shown in FIGURE 5 with the lampholder mounted thereon;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective fragmentary view of a second form of the mounting panel;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the lampholder shown in FIGURE 2 mounted on the modified panel shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an elevational View of the back of the panel shown in FIGURE 7 with the lampholder mounted thereon;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a third form of the mounting panel;

FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of a lampholder shown in FIGURE 2 mounted on the modified panel shown in FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of the lampholder and mounting panel shown in FIGURE 11 with the lockin g tongue shown in dotted lines.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is shown a conventional bi-pin fluorescent lamp 21 engaged between two fluorescent lampholders 22 which are constructed in accordance with the present invention. The right hand and the left hand lampholders 22 are identical to one another and they are engaged with identical supporting or mounting panels 23, looking at FIGURE 1, whichforrn part of a lighting fixture 24. The lamp 21 has a tubular glass envelope 25 and a pair of bases 26. The lamp bases 26 house a pair of contact pins (not shown) which are supported in the lampholders 22 and engaged by the lampholder contacts 27 and 28 which may be seen in FIGURE 5. Lead wires (not shown) are inserted through the apertures 31 and 32 and electrically connectedto the lampholder contacts 27 and 28 in any convenient manner.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 the lampholder 22 may be seen to have a housing 33 having a bottom or end wall 34, two side walls 35 and 36, a top or end wall 37,

and a front wall 38 and back wall 41. The front wall or face of the lampholder 22 has a cavity 42 formed therein which is partially closed by a cover member 43. The cover member 43 is secured in position by pin members 44 and 45.

Turning now to a very important aspect of the present invention, the side 35 of the housing 33 has a catch member on it including a stepped recess 46 and a boss 47. The recess 46 may be seen to open to the back wall 41 of the lampholder through the opening 48. The step 52 projects beyond the innermost side 51 of the back housing wall 41. The step 52 of the stepped recess has a surface 53 facing toward the front of the lampholder and two surfaces 54 and 55 facing toward the top of the lampholder. The boss 47 projects from the housings side wall 35. This boss 47 has a surface 56 facing toward the front of the lampholder and a surface 57 facing toward the top of the lampholder. Thev other side wall 36 ofthe lampholder 22 is a mirror image of the lampholder side wall 35. It will be understood that the side wall 36 has the same structural features as side wall 35.

The top wall 37 of the lampholder 22 has a catch member or recess 58 which opens to the innermost top edge 61 of the back wall 41. The recess 58 is T-shaped and opens to the innermost top edge 61 of the back wall through opening 62. Surfaces 63 and 64 in the recess face toward the front of the lampholder.

Looking now in particular at FIGURES 3 and 4, an aperture 65 maybe seen to pass through the housing from the front wall 38 through the'backwall 41. The aperture A. 65 has a counterbore recess 66 formed around it in the front wall 38 of the lampholder 22. A counterbore recess or catch member 67 is formed around the aperture in the back wall 41 of the lampholder 22.

For efficiently and simply fastening the improved lampholder 22 to a mounting panel in a lighting fixture without the necessity of utilizing any supplemental hardware such as screws and nuts, a variety of specially formed panels may be constructed to cooperate with the lampholder housing 33. Looking once again at FIGURE 2, a first panel form 23 may be seen. This first form of panel 23 has a pair of tabs 68 and 71 struck therefrom. A third tab 72 is struck from the panel and the three tabs 68, 71 and 72 are arranged in a triangle and have upright portions 73, 74 and 75 which project from the front face 76 of the panel 23. Each of the tabs 68, 71 and 72 has a bent over end or catch element 77, 78 and 81. The bent over ends 77, 78 and 81 point toward a common point 82. A locking tongue or catch element 83 is also struck from the panel 23 and projects from the same side of the panel as the tabs and lies between tabs 68 and 71 and within the triangle. The locking tongue 83 is sprung upwardly from the panel which is made of resilient, material. Thus the locking tongue 83 has a resilient action when it is pressed back toward the face of the panel. The equilibrium position of the tongue is a position projecting above the panel as shown in FIGURE 3.

The mounting panel may be constructed in alternative forms such as the second form 84 shown in FIGURE 7 r and the third form 85 shown in FIGURE 10. Looking at the second panel form 84, it may be seen that the panel 84 has a pair of tabs 86 and 87 struck therefrom. Each of the tabs 86 and 87 has an outer end or catch element 88 and 91 extending at an angle from upright portions 92 and 93 which project from the face 94 of the panel. A third tab 95 is also struck from the panel 84 and it has two ends or catch elements 96 and 97 which project from the uprightportion 98 transversely to the direction in which the outer ends 88 and 91 extend, The three tabs 86, 87 and 95 project from the same panel face 94 and they are arranged in a triangle. A T-shaped locking tongue or catch element 101 is also struck from the plate 84 and extends at anangle above the panel face 94 between tabs 86 and 87 and within the triangle formed by the three tabs. The tongue 101 extends in the opposite direction from the direction in which the outer ends 88 and 91 of the tabs 86 and 87 extend. The tongue 101 has projecting portions 102 and 103 extending from its side, see FIG- URE 9. The portions 102 and 103- have beveled edges 104 and 105.

Turning now to the third form 85 of the panel which is shown in FIGURE'lO, it may be seen that a locking tongue or catch element 106 has beenstruck from the panel and extends in a first direction. A first pair of tabs 107 and 108 have also been struck from the panel. Each of the tabs 107 and 108 has a bent over outer end or catch element 111 and 112 extending in the opposite direction from the direction in which the tongue 106 extends. The tongue 106 extends or projects above the panelface 113 and the tabs 107 and 108 have upright portions 114 and 115 projecting above the same face of the panel. A second pair of tabs 116 and 117 are also struck from the panel 85 and project above the panel face 113. This second pair of tabs 116 and 117 is spaced slightly further apart than the first pair of tabs 107 and 108. The tongue lies between the two tabs of each pair. Tabs 116 and 117 have slots. or catch elements 118 and 121 which open in the same direction in which the outer ends 111 and 112' of tabs 107 and 108 project. The slots 118 and .121 have surfaces 122 and 12 3 facing toward the front face 113 of the panel 85.

In the particular panel shown in FIGURE 10 it may be seen that the front face 113 of the panel has been formed in various planes. It is apparent from FIGURE 10 that the tab and tongue elements may be so formed that the lampholder 22 may be utilized even though a panel has a number of bends in its mounting surface.

Turning now to a consideration of the procedure for mounting the lampholder 22 on the panel 23 shown in FIGURE 2, particular attention is directed to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. The lampholder 22 is first placed against the front face 76 of the panel in the position shown in FIG- URE 3 with the ends 77 and 78 of the tabs 68 and 71 passing through openings 48 in each of the side walls 35 and 36 of the lampholder. The end 81 of tab 72 passes below and adjacent to the top wall 37 of the lampholder.

When the lampholder is first placed in position against the panel, the back wall 41 of the lampholder rests upon the locking tongue 83 as shown in FIGURE 3. The locking tongue 83 holds the lower portion of the lampholder away from the front face 76 of the panel. To lock the lampholder into engagement with the panel 23 the lampholder is pressed against the resilient tongue 83 depressing the tongue as shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 4. The lampholder is then pushed in the direction of its top wall 37 (see FIGURE 2 for part numbers). The ends 77 and 78 of tabs 68 and 71 engage the front facing surfaces 53 of the steps 52 as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. As the lampholder slides in the direction of its top end 37, the end 81 of the tab 72 is engaged on the forward facing surfaces 63 and 64 of the recess 58. As the tabs are fully seated upon the forward facing surfaces 53, 63 and 64, the locking tongue 83 springs or snaps into the counterbore recess 67 to lock the lampholder in secure position upon the panel 23 as shown in FIGURES 4 through 6.

It will be understood that the lampholder is held against movement in the direction of any of its six walls by its cooperative engagement with the first form 23 of the mounting panel. The engagement of the back facing tab ends 77, 78 and 81 over the front facing surfaces 53, 63 and 64 holds the lampholder against movement in the direction of its front wall 38. The lampholder is prevented from moving in the direction of its top wall 37 by the engagement of the edges of the tab ends 77 and 78 against the walls 55 of the lampholder recess and by the engagement of the tab end 81 against the top wall 37 of the lampholder. The lampholder is prevented from moving toward its bottom wall by the locking tongues 83 engagement with the side walls of the counterbore 67. This may be seen in FIGURE 6. Of course, the lampholder is prevented from moving to either side by the tabs 68 and 71 which extend along the side walls 35 and 36 of the housing 33. The engagement of the tab end 81 in the recess 58 and the engagement of the locking tongue 83 in the recess 67 also aid in preventing the lampholder from moving to either side. Of course, the lampholder 22 is prevented from moving in the direction of its back wall by the face 76 of the panel.

The lampholder 22 is mounted on the second form 84 (FIGURE 7) of the mounting panel in a manner similar to the manner in which the lampholder is mounted on the first form 23 of the panel. The ends 88 and 91 of the tabs 86 and 87 and the openings 48 (FIGURE 2) in the lampholders side walls are so dimensioned that the lampholder may be placed against the front face 94 of the panel with the ends 88 and 91 passing through the openings in the same manner that the ends 77 and 78 of the first panel form 23 did. In other words, the openings 48 are wider than the length of the tab ends 88 and 91. When the lampholder 22 is first placed in position against the panel 84, the tab 95 passes above the top wall of the lampholder and the back wall of the lampholder rests upon the locking tongue 101, which holds the top portion of the lampholder away from the front panel face 94.

To lock the lampholder 22 into engagement with the panel 84, the lampholder is pressed against the resilient tongue 101 and then pushed in the direction of its top wall until the ends 88 and 91 of the tabs 86 and 87 are engaged on the front surfaces 53 of the steps 52, and the reduced upright portion 98 of the tab 95 passes through the opening 62 (FIGURE 2) and the extensions 96 and 97 engage on the faces 63 and 64 of the recess 58, as shown in FIGURE 8. As the tabs are fully seated upon the forward facing surfaces 53, 63 and 64 of the housing 33, the locking tongue 101 springs or snaps into the counterbore recess 67 to lock the lampholder in secure position upon the panel 94 (see FIGURE 9). The beveled edges 104 and 105 of the extensions 102 and 103 of the locking tongue 101 provide good contact surface engagement between the tongue 101 and the side walls of the recess 67.

It will be understood that the lampholder is held against movement in the direction of any of its six walls by the second mounting plate form 84. The lampholder is held against movement in the direction of its front Wall 38 by the engagement of the tab ends 88, 91, 96 and 97 on the forward facing surfaces 53, 63 and 64 of the lampholder housing 33. The lampholder is prevented from moving in the direction of its top wall by the engagement of the edges of the tabs 86 and 87 against the lampholder surfaces 54 or 55. The lampholder is also prevented from moving in the direction of its top wall by the engagement of the tab 95 against the top wall 37 of the lampholder. The lampholder is prevented from moving to either side by the tabs 86 and 87 which extend along the side walls 35 and 36 of the housing and by the engagement of the tab 95 and the locking tongue 101 in their respective recesses. The lampholder is prevented from moving toward its bottom wall by the locking tongues 101 engagement with the side walls of the counterbore 67. Of course, the lampholder 22 is prevented from moving in the direction of its back wall by the upper face 94 of the panel 84.

The lampholder 22 is engaged by the third mounting panel form in a manner quite similar to the manner in which the lampholder is engaged on the first panel form 23 and second panel form 84. The lampholder is placed against the front face 113 of the third mounting panel 85 with the tab ends 111 and 112 passing through the openings 51 in the lampholder (FIGURES l0, l1 and 12). The tabs 116 and 117 pass above the lampholder bosses 47 (FIGURE 2) and the lampholder rests against the tongue 106. The tongue 106 holds the lower portion of the lampholder away from the front face 113 of the panel 85.

When it is desired to lock the lampholder 22 into en- :gagement with the panel 85, the lampholder is pressed against the tongue 106 and slid in the direction of its top wall 37 until the tab ends 111 and 112 engage upon the steps 52 and the slots 118 and 121 engage the bosses 47. At this time the tongue 106 snaps into the recess 67 to lock the lampholder against Withdrawal from the mounting panel 85.

It will be understood that the third mounting panel form 85 cooperates with the lampholder so that the lampholder is held against movement in the direction of any of its six walls. This may be seen by reference to FIG- URES 2, 10, 11 and 12 and the following description. The lampholder is held against movement in the direction of its front wall 38 by the engagement of the tab ends 111 and 112 upon the front facing surfaces 53 of the steps 52 and by the engagement of the slot faces 122 and 123 with the front facing boss surfaces 56. The lampholder is held against moving in the direction of its top wall by the engagement of the tabs 107 and 108 against the walls 54 or 55 of the recesses 52 and by the engagement of the boss walls 57 againts the back surfaces of the slots 11-8 and 121. The engagement of the tabs 107, 108, 116 and 117 with the side walls 35 and 36 of the lampholder prevents the lampholder from moving toward either of its side walls as does the engagement of the tongue 106 in the recess 67. The engagement of the tongue 106 and the recess 67 also prevents the lampholder from moving toward its bottom wall 34 and, of course, the lampholder 22 is prevented from moving in the direction of its back wall by the upper face 113 of the panel 85.

The lampholder 22 may also be affixed in a lighting fixture to a panel in a conventional manner by passing a screw through the aperture 65 in the usual way. The counterbore recesses 66 about the aperture could then serve for the receipt of a screw head or nut member so that the screw head or nutmember would not project above the front wall 38 of the lampholder.

A further aspect of our invention may be seen in FIGURE 4. A pointed instrument 124 is shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 4 inserted through the aperture 65 against the tongue 83. By this means the tongue 83 may be depressed to release it from the recess 67 and permit the lampholder 22 to be removed from the panel 23 for replacement or repair. It will be understood that the lampholder 22 may be released from mounting panels 84 and 85 in the same manner.

It will now therefore be seen that the new and improved fluorescent lampholder of the present invention readily lends itself to an eflicient and simplified fastening arrangement for securing the lampholder to a wide variety of mounting panels. This enables identical lampholders to be used in many different applications in lamp fixtures having different requirements. It may further be observed that the lampholder is easily locked into engagement with the panels without the use of fastening hardware and conveniently removed from the panel for replacement or repair. Furthermore, this lampholder may be employed with supplemental hardware to further enhance its flexibility of use.

While in accordance with the patent statutes we have described what at present are considered to be the preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from our invention, and we, therefore, aim in the following claims to coverv all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A fluorescent lampholder and a supporting panel which snap into cooperating engagement with one another, comprising a thin supporting panel made of resilient material, said panel having at least two tabs projecting from one panel face, a catch element on the end of each of said tabs, a resilient tongue struck from said panel and sprung upwardly from said panel face between said two tabs, said lampholder having a housing with two side walls, and a back wall, each of said side walls having a catch member thereon mating respectively with the catch elements on said two tabs, said back wall having a recess therein, said lampholder fitting between said two tabs with said catch elements on said two tabs aligned with their respective mating catch members, the aligning of said catch members with said catch elements bringing the recess on the back wall of said housing into alignment 'with said tongue, said housing then being depressible against'said plate to depress said tongue and slide over said plate to engage said mating catch elements and catch members and to move said recess on the back wall of said housing into snapped engagement with said tongue, whereby said lampholder is held in secure position on said panel against withdrawal, and an aperture opening through said housing to said tongue when the tongue is engaged in said recess in the back wall of the housing, said aperture allowing an instrument to be'inserted through said housing against said tongue to depress said tongue and permit the removal of said lampholder from said panel.

2. A lighting fixture with a panel having at least two tabs extending from one face thereof and a resilient tongue extending from the face of the panel between the two tabs, a lampholder including a housing having two side walls and a back wall, each of said side walls having means for mounting said lampholder on the panel, said mounting means including a stepped recess in each said side wall and a boss generally adjacent said recess, and said back wall having catch means for engaging said resilient tongue, whereby said lampholder is removably mountable on said panel with said tabs engaging said bosses and said catch means engaging said resilient tongue.

3. A lampholder in combination with a supporting panel having at least two tabs projecting from one face thereof, each of said tabs having an outer end including a tab surface facing toward and extending substantially parallel with the face of said panel, said lampholder having a housing with twoside walls and a back wall, a projecting portion on each of said side walls extending beyond the innermost side edge of said back wall and removably engaging under said tab surface, said tab thereby clamping said lampholder to said supporting panel.

4. A lampholder in combination with a supporting panel having at least two tabs projecting therefrom, each of said tabs having an outer end including a tab surface facing toward and extending substantially parallelwith the face of said panel, at least one catch element projecting from the face of said panel, said lampholder having three catch surfaces, at least two of said catch surfaces having a front face for mating engagement with said tab surfaces and said other catch surfaces engaging with said catch element of said panel to provide for the snap engagement of said lampholder with said panel.

5. A lampholder having a housing with at least two side walls and a back wall and adapted for attachment to a supporting panel in a lighting fixture without supplemental fastening means, said-panel having three catch elements thereon, said lampholder including a catch member on each of said side walls and a catch memberon said back wall, said catch members on said two side walls being spaced apart a predetermined amount and removably interfitting with the two catch elements on the panel in the lighting fixture and said catch member on said back wall .removably interfitting with the other catch element on the panel in the lighting fixture to snap said lampholder into engagement with the panel.

6. A lampholder having a housing with at least two side walls and a back wall and adapted for attachment to a supporting panel in a lighting fixture without supplemental fastening means, said panel having a tab surface thereon, said lampholder including a catch member on each of said side walls having a front face parallel with said back wall and projecting beyond the innermost side edge of saidback wall, said catch members being arranged on each of said side walls and removably engaging each of said front faces under the tab surface of the panel inthe lighting fixture with said front face of said catch member being received under the tab surface to thereby clamp said lampholder against the panel and secure the lampholder in the lighting fixture.

7. The lampholder of claim 6 wherein the catch member on each of said side walls comprises a stepped recess in the side wall.

8. The lampholder of claim 6 wherein the catch member on each of said side walls comprises a boss projecting from the side wall.

9. The lampholder of claim 6 wherein said lampholder includes an additional catch member between said catch members on the side walls, said additional catch member arranged to matingly engage a catch element on the panel of the lighting fixture and in cooperation with said catch members on' the side walls providing for the snap engagement of the lampholder with the panel of the lighting fixture.

10. For use with a relatively thin panel having three spaced apart tabs struck from one face thereof and a resilient tongue struck from the face between said tabs, a lampholder for a bi-pin fluorescent lamp comprising an insulative housing having two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and a back wall, each of said side walls having a catch member formed thereon including a stepped recess and a laterally projecting boss, each of said stepped recesses opening to said back wall, said top wall having a recess therein and said back wall having a recess therein, said lampholder being mountable upon the panel with said catch members on the side Walls in interlocking engagement with first and second of the tabs and said recess in the top wall of the lampholder housing in interlocking engagement with a third tab on the panel, said recess in the back wall of the lampholder housing in snapped engagement with the tongue of the panel to secure the lampholder on the panel.

11. A fluorescent lampholder and a supporting means which snap into cooperating engagement with one another, comprising a thin supporting panel made of resilient material and having three tabs arranged at the apexes of a triangle and projecting from one face of said panel with their ends bent over and extending in a direction toward a common point, a resilient tongue projecting from said panel face within the triangle formed by said three tabs, said lampholder having an essentially rectangular housing with two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and a back wall, each of said side walls having a stepped recess thereon with a step therein, each of the recesses opening to said back wall, said top wall having a recess therein and said back wall having a recess therein, said lampholder fitting between said three tabs with the bent over ends of two of said tabs passing into said recesses and the bent over end of said other tab passing adjacent the recess in the top wall of said housing, said housing thereby having the recess in its back wall aligned with the resilient tongue, said housing being depressible against said panel to depress said tongue and slide over said plate to engage the bent over ends of said two tabs on said steps in the side walls and the bent over end of said other tab in said recess in the top wall and move said recess in the back wall of said housing over said tongue, said tongue snapping into said recess to hold said lampholder in secure position on said panel against withdrawal.

12. A fluorescent lampholder and a supporting means which snap into cooperating engagement with one another, comprising a thin supporting panel made of resilient material and having three tabs arranged at the apexes of a triangle with upright portions projecting from one face )f said panel, the outer ends of two of said tabs extending at an angle from the upright portions of their tabs and in the same direction parallel to one another, the outer end of said other tab extending at an angle from two sides of its upright portion and transversely to the direction in which said other two ends extend, a resilient tongue projecting from the face of said panel within the triangle formed by said tabs, said lampholder having an essentially rectangular housing with two side Walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and a back wall, each of said side walls having a stepped recess thereon with a step therein, each of the recesses opening to said back wall,

said top wall having a recess therein and said back wall having a recess therein, said lampholder fitting between said three tabs with said outer ends of said two tabs passing into said recesses and said transverse extensions adjacent the top wall of said housing, said housing thereby having said recess in its back wall aligned with said resilient tongue, said housing being depressible against said panel to depress said tongue and slide over said panel to engage said outer ends of said two tabs on said steps and the outer end of said other tab in said recess in the top wall of said lampholder and move said recess in the back wall of said housing over said tongue, said tongue snapping into said recess to hold said lampholder in secure position on said panel against withdrawal.

13-. A fluorescent lampholder and a supporting means which snap into cooperating engagement with one another, comprising a thin supporting panel made of resilient material and having two pairs of tabs projecting from one of its faces, an elongated resilient tongue projecting from said panel face and extending in a first direction, the first pair of said tabs having one tab on each side of said tongue, said tabs having bent over ends extending parallel to one another in a second direction opposite the direction in which said tongue extends, the second pair of said tabs having one tab on each side of said tongue, said second pair of tabs being spaced further apart than said first pair of tabs, each of the tabs in said second pair of tabs having a slot opening in the second direction, said lampholder having an essentially rectangular housing with two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and a back wall, each of said side walls having a stepped recess and a boss thereon, each of the recesses opening to said back wall and having a step therein, and said back wall having a recess therein, said lampholder fitting between said tabs with the bent over ends of the first pair of said tabs passing into said stepped recesses and the second pair of said tabs passing beside said housing above said bosses, said housing thereby having the recess in its back wall positioned and aligned with the resilient tongue, said housing being depressible against said plate to depress said tongue and slide over said plate to engage said steps under the bent over ends of said two tabs and the bosses in the slots of said second pair of tabs and move said recess in the back wall of said housing over said tongue, said tongue snapping into said recess to hold said lampholder in secure position on said panel against withdrawal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,060,399 10/1962 Pistey 339-53 3,176,260 3/1965 Pascucci 339-53 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. RICHARD M. SHEER, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH A PANEL HAVING AT LEAST TWO TABS EXTENDING FROM ONE FACE THEREOF AND A RESILIENT TONGUE EXTENDING FROM THE FACE OF THE PANEL BETWEEN THE TWO TABS, A LAMPHOLDER INCLUDING A HOUSING HAVING TWO SIDE WALLS AND A BACK WALL, EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID LAMPHOLDER ON THE PANEL, SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A STEPPED RECESS IN EACH SAID SIDE WALL AND A BOSS GENERALLY ADJACENT SAID RECESS, AND SAID BACK WALL HAVING CATCH MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID RESILIENT TONGUE, WHEREBY SAID LAMPHOLDER IS REMOVABLY MOUNTABLE ON SAID PANEL WITH SAID TABS ENGAGING SAID BOSSES AND SAID CATCH MEANS ENGAGING SAID RESILIENT TONGUE. 